The Case of the Contaminated Cucumber- latest…

The Case of the Contaminated Cucumber is mystifying the meeja. It has had mega-coverage and natch the usual attention-seeking drama for the chattering classes, calling for all veg from Germany to be banned and other draconian measures (Russia has already imposed a ban but of course this has naff-all to do with public health).

What has not had much mention is the connection between e-coli and faeces.

We travellers in foreign parts never ate salad because of the possibility that the veg had been irrigated with sewage, a common practice in the tropics (maybe in Spain also). I always obeyed the old doggerel

‘What will you have?’ said the waiter, calmly picking his nose.
‘Two hard boiled eggs, you old bastard. You can’t get your fingers in those’.

On Sunday it is reported that the source was a restaurant. Having wrecked that business, the authorities now blame bean sprouts, so that should put the kybosh on the local Chinese take-away. It is obvious that they are clueless and like so many public officials are rushing around to cover their arses.

The most likely cause is not a rogue vegetable having its revenge on vegans but poor food hygiene somewhere down the supply chain – a kitchen drudge not washing his hands after poo.

Late news: ‘EU to hold crisis talks as source of e-coli outbreak remains a mystery’. That should crack it!